Mardi Gras, through visitors’ eyes

Published: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 4:51 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 4:51 p.m.

If you went to the Krewe of Ambrosia’s Mardi Gras parade Saturday night in Thibodaux, you probably saw my wife.

She was riding on the front of the 16th float, with a pink boa around her neck and a handful of pink beads or other trinkets at any given moment, just looking for the perfect recipient in the crowd below.

Ambrosia has a long and proud tradition, but our family — through my wife, Tammy — has been a part of it for just one parade. There will be more, I’m sure.

Tammy had a great time, thanks to the parade organizers, the many folks who keep the parade running on time and, of course, all those people who turn out to catch the glorious beads and baubles.

These parades of ours are special events, meant to thrill the people who watch and the people who ride. Much more often than not, they succeed. When they don’t, it is usually the fault of Mother Nature. But she cooperated last weekend. The weather looked like it would be cold, but it turned out to be just fine.

That was perfect for the people here who anticipate Mardi Gras all year.

It was even better for the group we had visiting from Alabama.

When Tammy’s family found out she was riding in the parade, they planned a visit that would include enough time in Thibodaux to see my godson, Kaegen, in a basketball game and, of course, the Ambrosia festivities.

Tammy and I rode in the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day parade in New Orleans for years.

We would spend a lot of time and money each year picking out the best throws. We would buy boxes of beads and stock up on all the special throws — the swords, the cups and all the rest. In our parade, one of the most-prized throws was the cabbage.

That’s just a little background to let you know that Tammy is no stranger to parades.

We’ve ridden in enough for her to know she absolutely loves them and for me to know I can take them or leave them.

Her Alabama family, though, was a different story.

Her sister, her nephew, his wife and Tammy’s niece had seen parades before. Some of them had been to the parades in New Orleans. But it had been a long time, and two of them had never seen a real, live Louisiana Mardi Gras parade.

Ambrosia did the trick.

They were spellbound from the moment we arrived at the parade route until long after the last float had passed.

We were lucky enough to find a great spot where we could watch the parade go by once, walk a few blocks on St. Charles Street and catch the whole thing go by a second time.

They loved it. And who wouldn’t?

The floats, the bands, the DJs, the many great throws, the other spectators who were just as friendly as they could be. (And a few even complimented Tammy’s nephew on his Alabama hat.) There was something for everyone, especially those who were catching their first parade or their first parade in years.

It was a hit.

After the parade, we carried their considerable haul back to the car and stowed it away. We took it home and transferred it to their car, where it was dutifully sorted on the long drive back to the Yellowhammer State.

The best thing about seeing the parade with our visitors was that to them, the parades’ sights and sounds, from the opening police sirens to the garbage trucks bringing up the rear, were magical Carnival events.

It is easy for us, the people who see these things numerous times every year, to get a bit calloused about how cool our area really is.

If you don’t see this stuff all the time, you can more easily recognize how amazing it is.

I love Mardi Gras, but honestly, most of my affection focuses on the king cake part of the holiday. I tend to forget about how nice the parades are, but they do help to make our home what it is.

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone! Remember how lucky you are to be in the midst of such a glorious celebration.

Editorial Page Editor Michael Gorman can be reached at 448-7612 or by e-mail at mike.gorman@dailycomet.com.

<p>If you went to the Krewe of Ambrosia's Mardi Gras parade Saturday night in Thibodaux, you probably saw my wife.</p><p>She was riding on the front of the 16th float, with a pink boa around her neck and a handful of pink beads or other trinkets at any given moment, just looking for the perfect recipient in the crowd below.</p><p>Ambrosia has a long and proud tradition, but our family — through my wife, Tammy — has been a part of it for just one parade. There will be more, I'm sure.</p><p>Tammy had a great time, thanks to the parade organizers, the many folks who keep the parade running on time and, of course, all those people who turn out to catch the glorious beads and baubles.</p><p>These parades of ours are special events, meant to thrill the people who watch and the people who ride. Much more often than not, they succeed. When they don't, it is usually the fault of Mother Nature. But she cooperated last weekend. The weather looked like it would be cold, but it turned out to be just fine.</p><p>That was perfect for the people here who anticipate Mardi Gras all year.</p><p>It was even better for the group we had visiting from Alabama.</p><p>When Tammy's family found out she was riding in the parade, they planned a visit that would include enough time in Thibodaux to see my godson, Kaegen, in a basketball game and, of course, the Ambrosia festivities.</p><p>Tammy and I rode in the Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day parade in New Orleans for years.</p><p>We would spend a lot of time and money each year picking out the best throws. We would buy boxes of beads and stock up on all the special throws — the swords, the cups and all the rest. In our parade, one of the most-prized throws was the cabbage.</p><p>That's just a little background to let you know that Tammy is no stranger to parades.</p><p>We've ridden in enough for her to know she absolutely loves them and for me to know I can take them or leave them.</p><p>Her Alabama family, though, was a different story.</p><p>Her sister, her nephew, his wife and Tammy's niece had seen parades before. Some of them had been to the parades in New Orleans. But it had been a long time, and two of them had never seen a real, live Louisiana Mardi Gras parade.</p><p>Ambrosia did the trick.</p><p>They were spellbound from the moment we arrived at the parade route until long after the last float had passed.</p><p>We were lucky enough to find a great spot where we could watch the parade go by once, walk a few blocks on St. Charles Street and catch the whole thing go by a second time.</p><p>They loved it. And who wouldn't?</p><p>The floats, the bands, the DJs, the many great throws, the other spectators who were just as friendly as they could be. (And a few even complimented Tammy's nephew on his Alabama hat.) There was something for everyone, especially those who were catching their first parade or their first parade in years.</p><p>It was a hit.</p><p>After the parade, we carried their considerable haul back to the car and stowed it away. We took it home and transferred it to their car, where it was dutifully sorted on the long drive back to the Yellowhammer State.</p><p>The best thing about seeing the parade with our visitors was that to them, the parades' sights and sounds, from the opening police sirens to the garbage trucks bringing up the rear, were magical Carnival events.</p><p>It is easy for us, the people who see these things numerous times every year, to get a bit calloused about how cool our area really is.</p><p>If you don't see this stuff all the time, you can more easily recognize how amazing it is.</p><p>I love Mardi Gras, but honestly, most of my affection focuses on the king cake part of the holiday. I tend to forget about how nice the parades are, but they do help to make our home what it is.</p><p>Happy Mardi Gras, everyone! Remember how lucky you are to be in the midst of such a glorious celebration.</p><p>Editorial Page Editor Michael Gorman can be reached at 448-7612 or by e-mail at mike.gorman@dailycomet.com.</p>